Environmental news: Brilliant eco friendly products & services

Updated on 12th February 2018 by Katie Roberts|

Is there anything more important than making the world a better place? We think not! Here is our monthly update on whats happening now. For other tips for being green and where to recycle in Singapore see our environment section – we are keen for us all to make a difference.

Message in a Bottle

At first glance, it’s hard to imagine how beer could make a positive impact on the environment, but Scottish craft brewer BrewDog has done just that. Created to raise awareness about climate change, the “Make Earth Great Again” saison (pale ale) style beer contains ingredients sourced from areas most affected by global warming, and fermented at a higher temperature than other styles. In a bid to amplify the message about climate change, BrewDog has sent a case of beer to The White House in Washington DC. Buy a schooner at BrewDog’s Bar in London served directly from a beer tap built into a life-size polar bear replica, or online at at BrewDog.com. All proceeds will be donated to climate change charity, 10:10.

Car Sharing is here

Hot on the heels of bicycle sharing is the arrival of BlueSG in Singapore, an electric car-sharing service that launched in December with 30 charging stations and 80 Bluecars. Ambitious work is underway to meet the eventual target of 500 stations with 2,000 charging points; 20 percent of which will be for public use. A fleet of 1,000 vehicles will be rolled out by 2020. The company behind the service, Bolloré group, operates car sharing programmes in Europe and North America and has plans to make Singapore the second largest electric vehicle car-sharing service after Paris.

Why use a shared vehicle? Aside from its environmental cred (no petrol required), users don’t need to pay for insurance, road tax or maintenance. Cars can be returned at locations different from their point of pick-up and can travel about 200km before the battery needs to be recharged. Drivers get a reminder to return the car to a charge station when the car’s charge level drops below 30 percent.

What’s the buzz about electric cars? Bluecars are powered by a Lithium Metal Polymer battery, which over years of testing has demonstrated high levels of reliability and safety. The 100 percent solid battery has no solvents or rare earth metals. What’s more, the cars emit no noise pollution, no direct carbon dioxide emissions and no petrol odours.

It’s simple to subscribe to the BlueSG programme. Choose from a yearly membership plan ($15/month) or a weekly membership plan with no recurring fee.

Cut the Cups!

Last month’s three-day homage to the brown bean, the Singapore Coffee Festival, is an indication of how seriously we take our daily caffeinated beverage. But have you thought about the cup you drink it in? If it’s a takeaway, it’s likely a cup that looks recyclable but actually isn’t, because of the plastic coating. The issue takes on greater weight when you consider how many cups are disposed of – in Australia alone, it’s estimated at 2.7 million a day. Yet it’s so easy to bring your own reusable cup to your local café; the KeepCup is one popular example. And, if you like to linger in a café rather than grab a takeaway, you’ll soon be able to drink from the new HuskeeCup. The environmentally friendly cup is made from coffee husk, the outer shell of the bean discarded during the milling phase. It’s chip- and crack-resistant and should look right at home on the counter of the hippest café. The cup raised US$113,000 in crowd-funding – far exceeding its modest target of US$20,000. huskee.co

Re-thinking that time of the month

Like nappies, female sanitary products cop criticism because they are disposable and nonbiodegradable. The good news is that we now have choices, thanks to the release of several innovative and environmentally friendly products.

Singapore based Freedom Cups are silicon cups that are inserted into the cervix to collect menstrual fluid. Manufacturers say one cup can be reused for up to 15 years. An alternative, also made from silicon, is the Diva Cup, which offers up to 12 hours of protection. Another option, possibly more appealing for teenage girls, is Thinx – absorbent anti-microbial underwear worn during menstruation. Nicknamed “period panties”, they’re made from four layers of fabric and can be worn all day, washed and re-used. freedomcups.org | divacup.com | shethinx.com

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About Katie Roberts

Katie has had itchy feet ever since her first trip out of Australia, when she spent 12 months as an 18 year old exchange student in remote northern Japan. This spawned a love of travel and an insatiable curiosity about the world. Luckily, as a travel writer, she has had the opportunity to travel far and wide, often with her family in-tow. She has enjoyed living in Singapore since 2010 and counts chicken rice, beef rendang and Penang laksa as her favourite hawker fare.